STOP! DO YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTROL BLEEDING IN THE WORKPLACE?
“Uncontrolled blood loss is a primary source of preventable death after injury.” – Journal of Workplace Health and Safety.
Ultimately, the word PREVENTABLE is why we do what we do at Lechner. That key word drives our mission to promote safety within our local businesses. We know that by providing appropriate first aid, injuries can be prevented, and lives can be saved.
First, let's talk first aid guidelines & requirements.
Every workplace is required to be compliant with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). According to OSHA Regulation CFR 1910.151(b), in the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available.
So, what are adequate first aid supplies?
OSHA relies on ANSI standards for the contents of first aid kits and cabinets. Class A cabinets contain the basics and are suitable for workplaces with less than 40 employees. Class B cabinets, on the other hand, are meant for higher-risk facilities, such as construction sites, manufacturing plants, warehouses, schools, fitness facilities, and more.
Because bleeding injuries are most common in these industries, ANSI updated the ANSI Z308.1 standard for Class B cabinets to also include a Bleed Stop Kit.
What is a Bleed Stop Kit?
A Bleed Stop Kit compactly holds the essentials that help control life-threatening bleeding before medical personnel arrive. Contents can include:
- Gloves to safely handle blood and keep hands clean
- Utility Scissors to help cut away clothing and reveal the source of the bleeding
- Hemostatic Gauze to cover and pack the wound locally
- Medi-Rip (cohesive bandage) to roll over the gauze and maintain pressure on the wound
- Chest Seal for penetrating chest traumas
- Tourniquet for preventing severe blood loss from trauma
- Marker to document the time that the tourniquet was applied (this information is very important for medical personnel!)
We offer Basic, Standard, and Premium Bleed Stop Kits to best meet your needs (which we can assess by looking at your industry and number of employees)!
Bleed Control Instructions
If someone is bleeding uncontrollably, it’s important to act fast – and the only way to do that is by having the necessary tools readily accessible. A Bleed Stop Kit keeps the essentials in one place, with easy-to-follow instructions on how to stop the bleed. The goal is to empower any one of your employees to be a rescuer – because at the end of the day, it is whoever is near the accident that will end up being the first responder.
Do I need a Bleed Stop Kit in my workplace?
Traumatic injuries are very common in the workplace due to safety hazards. Major factors, such as lack of safety protocols, and even seemingly minor factors, such as slippery floors or cuts from work tools, are risks for any company.
Unfortunately, it’s also important to consider unpredictable emergencies, such as mass shootings. Inquiring about first aid after an emergency, is already too late.
Our mission is to keep businesses prepared ahead of time, so that if the worst is to happen, they are prepared to respond and give the victims the highest possible chance of survival. We strive to give employees and employers the peace of mind they deserve by keeping them prepared.
Where should my Bleed Stop Kits be located?
We strongly recommend designating well-known locations in your facility as your Safety Hubs! Keeping your First Aid Cabinet, Bleed Stop Kit, and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) all in one space ensures everyone remembers where to go in case of an accident. These areas should be high-traffic, publicly accessible and easy to find. Think of break rooms, gathering areas, and high-risk work zones as good places to start.
Lechner stands behind the STOP THE BLEED® initiative.
We believe that the goal of establishing STOP THE BLEED® as a national public awareness campaign can be fulfilled by creating the conversation within our local community! By teaching our local businesses about the dangers of not having a Bleed Stop Kit, we can create more confident employees that feel secure in their workplace’s safety protocols. In the minutes between the first sign of traumatic injury and the EMS workers’ arrival, we need to do all we can to increase the victim’s chances of survival. Sometimes, something as small as a Bleed Stop Kit can keep someone alive.
Join us in continuing the conversation. Together, we can STOP THE BLEED®.
READY TO PROTECT YOUR WORKPLACE?
Contact us today for a free safety assesment of your facility.
